About
The European Prize for Women Innovators is jointly awarded by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) and the European Innovation Council (EIC). Through this collaboration, the EIT and EIC are showcasing a large pool of women innovators, offering more opportunities for trailblazers, and providing inspiring role models for women and girls everywhere.
The European Prize for Women Innovators celebrates the women entrepreneurs behind Europe's most game-changing innovations. The prize awards women from across the EU and countries associated to Horizon Europe, whose disruptive innovations are driving positive change for people and planet.
Since 2023, the European Innovation Council (EIC) and the European Institute for Innovation & Technology (EIT) have teamed up to create a bigger and bolder European Prize for Women Innovators, with no fewer than 9 prizes to be awarded.
The call is launched in accordance with the European Innovation Council (EIC) Work Programme and is managed by the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT).
Categories
There are three prize categories:
- In the EIC Women Innovators category, three prizes of EUR 100 000, EUR 70 000 and EUR 50 000 are awarded to the three highest-ranked applications;
- In the EIC Rising Innovators, three prizes of EUR 50 000, EUR 30 000 and EUR 20 000 are awarded to the three highest-ranked applications from promising ‘Rising Innovators’ under the age of 35.
- The EIT Women Leadership Award, awarded to exceptional women leaders from the EIT Community. The winner is awarded EUR 50 000, and two runners-up are awarded EUR 30 000 and EUR 20 000 respectively.
Eligible applicants can only apply to one category. The winners are chosen by an independent expert jury.
Funding opportunities
The call for applications is open from 2 September until 1 December 2026, 17:00 CET. Please check the "How to apply" section for further information.
Who should apply
All applicants must comply with the following eligibility criteria to participate:
- The applicant must be a woman (Please remember you must apply as a natural person and not as a legal entity);
- The applicant must be legally established in an EU Member State, including overseas countries and territories (OCTs) or a country associated to Horizon Europe;
- The applicant must be the founder or co-founder of the company or organisation;
- The company or organisation must be established in an EU Member State including overseas countries and territories, (OCTs) or a country associated to Horizon Europe, and registered or incorporated at least one year before the call year (before 1 January 2025);
- Applicants who have already received an EU or Euratom prize cannot receive a second prize for the same activities.
In addition to the above, those applying for the Rising Innovators category must be aged under 35 at the start of the call year. There is no age limit to apply for the Women Innovators category (or for the EIT Women Leadership category), though applicants eligible for several prize categories can only apply to one.
Award criteria
Eligible applications will be evaluated against 3 award criteria:
- Breakthrough innovation – the company or organisation founded or co-founded by the applicant is developing a breakthrough innovation focusing, among others, on Deep-tech and Science Technology Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) fields. In presenting their innnovation, the applicant should demonstrate what makes this innovation breakthrough in relation to existing solutions.
- Impact – this innovation addresses a real need or challenge, with significant benefits for people and/or the planet. The applicant will demonstrate how the company’s or organisation’s current performance and growth is driving a positive socio-economic and/or environmental impact, among others, in terms of wellbeing, education, profit, or job creation.
- Inspiration – the applicant is an inspiring leader, who has played a pivotal role in the success of the company or organisation and is a role model empowering other women and girls in realising their full potential. The applicant should, for example, highlight her efforts to promote gender balance within the company, organisation or beyond, and/or to advocate for innovative initiatives that have positively contributed to gender equality in, e.g., access to finance, networks, product design, education and contributes to a gender-responsive innovation.
How to apply
Please consult the following documents before submitting your application:
Please use the links below to apply for the following categories via the Funding and Tenders Portal:
- 1 December 2026 (17:00 CET)Deadline for applications
- January 2027Evaluation
- February - March 2027Jury hearings
- March 2027Shortlist/finalists' announcements
- June 2027Award ceremony
Guidelines for applicants
On 17 September 2026, an online info session on the 2027 European Prize for Women Innovators was available for potential applicants.
Did you miss it? Check the recording and the presentation below:
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Contact us
For more information, please contact us at EISMEA-WIP
ec [dot] europa [dot] eu (EISMEA-WIP[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu) or eit-awardseit [dot] europa [dot] eu (eit-awards[at]eit[dot]europa[dot]eu).
You can also follow us on social media with the hashtag #WiPrizeEU.
News
The twelve cities will now compete for the titles of European Capital of Innovation 2027 and European Rising Innovative City 2027.
The Espoo-based robotics company has raised €6.4 million to bring physical AI to European infrastructure, and has initiated discussions on a procurement deal with a major infrastructure corporation following EIC Business Acceleration Services’ support.
The Board welcomes with caution the adoption of the Council's Partial General Approach and reiterates the need for reinforced integrity of the European innovators journey, including the distinct character of the EIC Fund, and significantly increased EIC budget.